"Mrs. S the listening center stopped working!" I heard this so many times last year as my kiddos would try to use our listening center during our reading block. Thanks to another project, we will have an iPad for our classroom and now we need the accessories to make it a listening center.
My students are kindergarteners at a rural elementary school in north central Florida.
They are sweet and so excited about coming to school. When they spot a smartphone they get excited because many of their families are low-income and do not have the technology I am trying to offer to them in my classroom. Fortunately, they are fast-learners and I know they can become competent users of any technology placed before them.
My Project
Our combination CD and tape deck listening centers are very old and most are at least partially broken but there is no money to fix or replace them. Through Donors Choose, I was able to get an iPad for my classroom so my students could have access to eBooks and MP3 versions of our listening centers. Now that we will be getting an iPad, I need a sturdy case to protect it from my sometimes rambunctious kiddos. Once the iPad is secure, it can be used as a listening center or activity station with the splitter and headphones. By connecting it to the boombox, all the students will be able to hear it and I can use the iPad during whole group instruction. This boombox can also play CDs so I have another option for playing music for the class if the iPad is in use or I have a substitute who is uncomfortable using the iPad. These materials will be used daily in my classroom and it will be hard to believe I ever functioned without them.
This project is just as important as the one that earned an iPad for my classroom because the iPad is not as effective without these accessories.
The wonderful thing about these kinds of projects is that the technology becomes integral to the classroom and offers authentic learning experiences. Furthermore, your donation helps this year's class and many, many future classes because the technology will be well cared for. Please consider helping my kiddos and know that you will have a huge impact!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Sheehan and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.